Harcourts Foundation Ambassador Sarah Joseph and Harcourts Victoria CEO Adam Fiteni have visited the Wombat’s Wish office in Clifton Springs to present a grant supporting the organisation’s work with bereaved children, young people and families across Victoria.
Wombat’s Wish provides therapeutic, evidence-based programs for children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent or primary caregiver, including weekend grief programs and one-to-one counselling, all offered at no cost to families.
The organisation says one in 20 children in Australia will experience the death of a parent before they turn 18 – equivalent to one child in every classroom.
The visiting party met the Wombat’s Wish team, including General Manager Nicki Dunne, and was introduced to Freeman, the organisation’s mascot.
Representatives from Harcourts Drysdale also took part, reflecting the local connection behind the Foundation’s support.
The flagship weekend grief programs are delivered with professional facilitators, including psychologists, social workers, youth workers and counsellors, alongside trained volunteers.
They give children and their surviving parent or carer the chance to connect with others who have experienced similar loss, and to develop strategies to help them move forward.
“It was a great opportunity to hear firsthand about the support Wombat’s Wish provides to children, young people and families following the loss of a parent or primary caregiver,” Sarah said.
“We were also joined by representatives from our local Harcourts Drysdale office, who were proud to be involved in supporting such an important cause within their local community.”
Adam said the visit underlined the value of backing organisations doing meaningful work locally.
“Wombat’s Wish is doing incredibly important work for children and families at a time when they need support most,” Adam said.
“It was wonderful to meet the team, learn more about what they do and see firsthand the care that goes into supporting families through such a difficult experience.”
Pauline Smith, Head of the Harcourts Foundation, said the grant reflected the Foundation’s broader commitment to communities where Harcourts people live and work.
“The Harcourts Foundation is proud to support Wombat’s Wish and the vital work it does to ensure children and young people don’t have to navigate grief alone,” Pauline said.
“The Foundation is about bringing our network together to support organisations that are making a genuine difference in their communities, and Wombat’s Wish is a wonderful example of that.”